Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Eric Lindros is a big fan of Matthew Knies and the potential that he has.

During an appearance on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Wednesday, the Hall of Famer was asked about the play of Auston Matthews and how he has been as a leader. Lindros was quick to point out that the guys around the captain have been pulling their weight so far this season, especially Knies whom he thinks can be a difference maker.

“When I watch Knies play, I just think there’s no end to how good he can get. He’s solid,” he said. “You look at him, he’s got the strong neck. He skates with purpose. He looks like such a player. And as he gets his confidence going and gets more exposure, I think you’re going to see a load. People look at ‘Yeah we need a goal, we gotta get Auston out there.’ I think that load can be shared a bit with the likes of Knies. I think he’s going to be one of those players.”

It’s quite high praise from a guy who was among the best in the NHL at the peak of his powers, especially for a player who had a similar type of game to the one Knies possesses. You could even go as far as to say that the 22-year-old could have the makings of a modern-day prime Lindros if he plays his cards right.

Knies has indeed emerged as one of the Leafs’ most important pieces with him currently sitting fifth on the team in scoring with 26 points (16 goals and 10 assists) in 40 games played. He is on pace to smash his point totals from his rookie season while also emerging as one of the Leafs most dependable options in front of the net.

“He’s a house,” John Tavares said on Knies. “He’s a tough guy to move, so physically mature for his age. Just got real soft hands, I think he’s really shown that with his ability to handle the puck in tight areas and certainly in and around the net. It’s a nice combination for us.”

Part of what makes Knies such an effective player for the Leafs is his tenacity and physical playstyle, which has been a perfect fit into Craig Berube’s system. The bench boss has fundamentally changed the way his team approaches the game through the implementation of a heavier playstyle and a stronger forecheck.

Lindros is not shocked to see that Berube is enjoying a lot of success with the Leafs early on because he understands what type of hockey will typically be effective in the playoffs.

“I think that teams that decide that they want to turn on the physical element of things just before the playoffs don’t seem to do very well,” he said. “I think the teams that play heavy all the way through, their bodies get used to it. They get accustomed to it. They get that’s the way that they play and come playoff time, I think it’s a big advantage to have that in your arsenal. I’m not saying a team needs to play that way every night, but it’s certainly not a switch that you kind of flick on and say, ‘Okay, now all of a sudden it’s playoff hockey. We need to pick up on our physical side.’ It’s a whole different game.”

He went on to mention that the big thing that the team needs to have a strong showing in the spring is to stay relatively healthy and continue to respond well when faced with adversity.

Lindros was able to play for the Leafs during the 2005-06 season where injuries limited him to 33 games but was still able to record 22 points (11 goals and 11 assists) in that span. While Lindros wished that he could have been able to been more healthy that year, it was an experience he continues to look back on fondly because he was able to live out his childhood dream.

He even didn’t mind all of the baggage that comes with donning the Blue and White as he experinced that level of intese focus during his time with the Fyers and New York Rangers.

“ There’s no question about it. Toronto’s intense,” he said. “ You wake up in Toronto, you go down to the diner that was down the way that a lot of guys would go over to before practice. And everybody in the place would know if you had a good game the night before or a stinker. That’s just the way it is and it kept you honest. I liked it, I thought it was good.”

You can watch the full interview with Lindros down below: